 At the age of 23, Bert joined the Australian Imperial Force. Six months later on the 27th of June 1941, he was assigned to 3 Australian Anti Tank Regiment and sailed to the Middle East with the famous 9th Division, where he remained until February 1943. During that time on the 9th September 1942 he was appointed Lance Bombardier and promoted to Bombardier on 20th October 1942. He was appointed Lance Sergeant on the 12th of January 1943.
3 Australian Anti Tank Regiment returned with the 9th Division from service in the Middle East and in August 1943 they served in New Guinea as the 2nd/3rd Anti Tank Regiment where they remained until May 1944.
Bert was promoted to Sergeant (acting Warrant Officer Class 2) on the 6th October that year and after more training the Regiment then set sail from Cairns to Labuan in April 1945 as part of 9th Division, thence to serve in Morotai British North Borneo in July of that year until finally disembarking in Brisbane in December 1945. The war was over. After serving his country, Bert obtained his well earned discharge from the Army on 22nd January 1946. His rank on discharge was Warrant Officer Class One.
Bert was a member of Cronulla RSL for many years but because of his involvement with 2nd/3rd Anti Tank Regiment and 9th Division, he used the Combined Services Club as his Headquarters and ‘watering hole’. Bert was one terrific digger, a very loyal soldier and comrade, a good friend to have at all times, a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a very caring, reliable and helpful person, and even though he was gravely ill himself, he still had all the concern and time in the world for others. He was so easy to converse with and a thorough gentleman, definitely of the old school and will be sadly missed by us all especially at the Combined Services Club.
Bert’s funeral was a very private family affair but he was sent out with a great Memorial Device on the 20th January 2010 at St Paul’s Anglican Church Oatley. The church was packed including two of Bert’s comrades in Bill Pharo and Tony Stacey from the 2nd/3rd Anti Tank Regiment AIF attending, and nine members representing 23 Field Regiment RAA Association. |
